Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1887-11-06
9ai1Y eagle
HOME CONVENIENCES.
JEFFERSON'S CONTRIVANCES FOB
COMFORT AND ADORNMENT.

ceIlo-A Double Bed chamber-Writ-
ing Chair and TabIe-Odd Little Clos
ets-The Work Bench.
think it is not generally known with what
pleasure and zeal Jefferson brought his mind
to bear, not only upon the development OF
his somewhat grand ideas in regard to
home, but upon the most minute and peculiar
contrivances for convenience and adornhent.
He drew plans and made estimates for nearly
everything that was built or constructed on
his place He calculated the number et
Bricks to be used in every part OF his bulld-
ings and his family now possess elaoorateiF
drawn plans of such. bits of household fur
uisbing as Curtain valences" and the like.
Many of his ideas in regard to building ana
furnishing he brought with him from France;
but more of them had their origin In his
brain There were no bedsteads in his house,
but in every chamber there was an alcove in
the wall in which wooden framework was
built which supported the bed.
His own sleeping arrangements during ths
lifetime Of his wife were Of a very peculiar
paturs; in the partition between two cham
beFs was an archway, and In this archwag
was the double bed; one chamber was MIR.
Jefferson's room and the other was his wife's
dressing rsom When he arose in the morn
ting he got out Of bed into his own room and
Mrs. Jefferson got out into her room. After
his wifes death her room became his study,
aud the partition wall between it and the
library being taken down, the whole was
thrown into the present large apartment. Over
the arch way in which the bed is placed is
long closet reached by step ladder placed in
another closet at the foot of the bed. In this
were stored il summer the winter clothes of
the family, and in winter their summer habii-
amsnts. At the other side Of the arch there
is small door, 50 that persons going from
one room 70 the other had no need to Chamber
over the bed.
PECULIAR WRITING CHAIR
In the smaller chamber, when it became
his study, stood Mr. JeiIerson's writing chair,
which was made to suit his peculiar needs;
the chair itself was high backed, well
rounded and cushioned, and in front Of it
extended cushioned platform, on which Mr..
jefferson found livery pleasant to stretch his
legs, being sometimes troubled with swelings
of the smaller veins of these limbs. The
writing table was SO made that it could be
drawn up over this platform, legs and all, and
pushed down when it was not in use The
top of this table turned on pivot; on one
sido Of it were his writing materials, and on
the other side was the little apparatus by
which he made copies of all his letters. By
his side was another revolving table, on
which his books of reference lay or were held
open at proper angles Near him also stood
pair of largo globes, and, if he wished to
study anything outside o. this world, he had
M the room two long telescopes mounted on
brass tripods. Convenient, also were his
TioIins, one Cremona and the other the bass
viol saved from the ShadwelI fire. Besides
the book shelves and the somewhat simple
furniture of the library there were q number
of oddly contrived little closets, in which
were stored his multitudinous manuscripts
There is a writing table now in tho possess
sion Of the family, which was frequently
used by Mr.. Jefferson, and whichais very
ingepiously contrived. Two of its four legs
are hollow, and in these run rods resting
upon springs by which the table can be
easily elevated, the other two legs being also
eHtensible, but in q different way When
Mr.. jefferson was tired Of writing In a sit
ting position he could stand up and raise this
table to the desired height. When he wished
TO use it rs a reading stand the top could be
inclined at any angle, and strip of brass
was brought into use TO keep the books and
papers from sliding eff
Opening from the library was a large room
inclosed with glass, which was intended for a
but was used by Mr.. Jefferson
as bis work room. There he had a work
bench, with all sorts of carpenters tools, with
which be constructed great many of the
small c6nvenicnces he invented.-Frank R.
Stockton in The Century.